Karoon’s Who Dat West Well Hits Final Depth Without Hydrocarbons
Karoon Energy has concluded drilling at the Who Dat West exploration well, reaching its target depth but finding no significant hydrocarbons. The joint venture now shifts focus to development options for prior discoveries in the area.
- Who Dat West well drilled to 7,147 metres with no significant hydrocarbons found
- Well will be plugged and permanently abandoned
- Drilling campaign achieved all operational objectives
- Joint venture to assess development options for Who Dat East and South discoveries
- Karoon holds 35% interest in the lease alongside LLOG and others
Exploration Outcome at Who Dat West
Karoon Energy has announced that the Who Dat West exploration well, located in Mississippi Canyon Block 629, has reached its final measured depth of 7,147 metres without encountering any significant hydrocarbon-bearing intervals. The well, drilled by the Noble Valiant drillship, has now been plugged and permanently abandoned, marking the end of this particular exploration effort.
This result comes as a disappointment given the high expectations set by earlier discoveries in the same campaign, notably at Who Dat East and Who Dat South, which yielded important hydrocarbon finds. Despite the negative outcome at Who Dat West, the drilling campaign overall was successful in meeting all planned operational objectives and acquiring a high-quality dataset to inform future assessments.
Strategic Implications for the Joint Venture
The Who Dat West well was the final well in the 2024 near-field exploration and appraisal campaign. With drilling now complete, the joint venture partners, including Karoon Energy (35% interest), LLOG (operator, 30%), Westlawn Americas Offshore (30%), and Houston Energy (5%), will turn their attention to evaluating development options for the promising discoveries at Who Dat East and South.
Karoon’s participation through its wholly owned subsidiary underscores its commitment to advancing its Gulf of Mexico portfolio despite the setback at Who Dat West. The data acquired will be integrated into a broader assessment of remaining prospectivity within the lease, potentially guiding future exploration or appraisal activities.
Context Within Karoon’s Broader Exploration Efforts
This announcement follows recent updates from Karoon regarding contingent resource upgrades at Who Dat East and exploration progress at Who Dat South, both released in late 2024. The mixed results from the campaign highlight the inherent uncertainties and risks of offshore exploration, particularly in complex deepwater environments.
While the absence of hydrocarbons at Who Dat West may temper near-term optimism, the joint venture’s ability to execute the drilling campaign efficiently and gather valuable subsurface data is a positive takeaway. It also reflects the dynamic nature of exploration where not every well yields commercial success, but each contributes to a clearer understanding of the subsurface.
Looking Ahead
As Karoon and its partners evaluate development scenarios for their discoveries, investors will be watching closely for indications of project economics, timelines, and potential production profiles. The Gulf of Mexico remains a competitive and technically challenging basin, but successful development here could significantly enhance Karoon’s asset base and future cash flows.
Bottom Line?
Karoon’s exploration campaign wraps with mixed results, setting the stage for critical development decisions ahead.
Questions in the middle?
- What are the potential development timelines and cost estimates for Who Dat East and South?
- How will the Who Dat West result influence Karoon’s future exploration strategy in the Gulf of Mexico?
- What impact might this outcome have on Karoon’s financial outlook and investor sentiment?
